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In the spring, two seasonal fox events happen: Dog foxes (male foxes) and vixens (females) shed (boy, do they!), and as well, cubs are born.
When foxes shed, they look to be in an awful way: They are patchy, dull coated, scraggly, and very thin (a result of using up their fat reserves throughout the winter). To concerned onlookers, they look sick.
The vixens in particular look even more frazzled as they are nursing their babies and burning even more calories for milk production.
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While the vixen is den-bound with nursing, grooming, and cleaning her babies, the dog fox feeds and protects her and their cubs. The babies nurse for four to six weeks. Cubs start to test and eat solid regurgitated foods from mum at around 3.5 weeks. Foxes are excellent parents, both hunt to feed their fast-growing and oh so hungry, very demanding babies. For the first two or three days, the vixen will not usually leave her babies, not even for a drink. Imagine how great mum feels when she’s able to finally step outside the den and grab a well-deserved moment for herself.
It’s a full-time job feeding, warming, grooming, cleaning, and protecting babies. Add stress and exhaustion, viola — more springtime frazzles, and, wow, vixens can look poorly.
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SOME FUN FOX FACTS
- While males are called dog(s) or dog fox, and females are called vixen, baby foxes can be called cubs, kits or kites.
- Foxes often choose and prefer to den near humans. They have learned that human activity tends to ward off their cubs’ natural predators.
- It takes one month before cubs can thermoregulate their own body temperatures, relying upon mum 100 per cent to stay warm till then.
- Foxes can eat up to a thousand voles throughout the winter.
- Foxes on average will eat up to 2.5 lbs of food a day. A large portion of this would be rodents and other perceived pests. They are a gardener’s true friend.
- Foxes are solitary hunters. They do not hunt in packs.
- In Nova Scotia, our native fox is the red fox, reaching a weight of up to 15 lbs. with an average weight is 11 lbs.
- Red fox cubs are born with black woolly baby fur and blue eyes.
- By the end of May, cubs are usually fully weaned and their colour changes to red fox splendour. The adults have shed out, and their beautiful, lush fur coats and floofy tails regain their rich, glossy glory.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
A final few words on how to help our beautiful fox friends thrive and survive.
When well-meaning humans start feeding foxes processed foods (this includes pet foods as well as grocery items), two things happen:
- Declining body condition, malnourishment including a diminished immune system.
- Changes in natural hunting behaviours and survival skills.
Help save and keep the wild in our wildlife by leaving the wildlife to feed and raise themselves naturally.
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